Theory and Practice in Breeding. 181 



at remunerative prices will give corn breeding that 

 continuous and large attention, both from private 

 breeders and from public institutions, which will in- 

 sure its rapid development. No plant in the world has 

 better prospects of earning a distinguished set of ped- 

 igrees suited to all climes and all soils where corn will 

 grow. It will be bred a king. 



Progress in animal breeding, while considerable in 

 the aggregate, is slow in comparison with what it 

 might be. The efforts with most breeders are with 

 small numbers and cover relatively short periods of 

 time. The best fraternity groups or families produced 

 by the most effective breeders are not usually perpet- 

 uated as effectivly as they should be. Under the dom- 

 inance of methods too exclusively artistic, fashion oft- 

 en works economic injury fairly extensive in character 

 and vast in scope, along with its good achievements. 

 The loss of the larger part of the Morgan horse blood, 

 of part of the butter-producing capacity of Short-horn 

 cattle and of part of the fecundity of Poland-China 

 swine represents a sufficient sum to have paid for much 

 additional expenditure in breeding these classes. 



Another extensive source of loss is in the expense 

 of unsuccessful experiments now carried on by private 

 breeders of plants and animals. This of course is small 

 in the aggregate as compared with the possible values 

 arising from breeding operations which would add 

 even i per cent or forty million dollars annually, to the 

 worth of our plant and animal products. 



It would seem that only its difficult nature causes 

 conservatism in breeding, while mechanical and elec- 

 trical engineering are making such strides as they are. 

 Wider interest, more extensive co-operation, increased 

 expenditures, more investigation into the theory and in- 

 creased markets for pedigreed plants and animals are 

 all needed. 



The whole field is in that stage of development 

 where very great progress is coming into view. Pre- 

 liminary experiments in breed and variety improve- 



